Mimeographer



B. GOLD MIMEOGRAPHER April 4, 1944.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12, 1942 mmvrox Ear M5126 5 JTTORA/EY April 4, 1944. 5. GOLD 2,346,023

MIMEOGRAPHER Filed Nov. 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. a" & 6 26. F 15.8, 0

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MIMEOGRAPHER Benjamin Gold, N ew York, N. Y.

Application November 12, 1942, Serial No. 465,367

6 Claims. (Cl. 101-125) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a Mimeographer of post card, note or letter size.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of a postal card size Mimeographer characterized by a top plate which is extended across the fiat top face of a platen having a curved bottom face for a pad and stencil with the ends of the stencil being directed inwards between the adjacent faces of the plate and platen in a manner to be securely clamped in position.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a screw means for urging the top plate into facial engagement with the top face of the platen in a manner to insure the clamping of the ends of the stencil as hereinabove mentioned.

Still further it is proposed to provide the bottom face of the top plate with downwardly extending transverse ribs for urging the ends of the stencil into complementary grooves formed in the end portions of the top face of the platen in a manner to take up the slack in the stencil when the ends are being clamped in position between the top plate and platen.

A further object of the invention proposes serrated bars upon which the ends of the stencil are adapted to be mounted and the provision of means for holding the bars in several longitudinal positions on the platen while the top slack in the stencil to be partially taken up before the top plate is securely clamped in position.

It is a further object of this invention to construct a postal card size Mimeographer which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the append ed claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a postal card size Mimeographer constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the platen per se.

Fig. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the top plate per se.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a postal card size Mimeographer constructed in accordance with a modification of this invention.

Fig. 6 is a reduced plan View of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a partial longitudinal vertical sectional view on the line 'I--'I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view similar to a portion of Fig. 5 but illustrating the parts in a different position.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged partial longitudinal vertical sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the platen per se.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of one end of one of the serrated bars per se.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the Mimeographer illustrated in use.

The postal card size Mimeographer, according to this invention, includes a platen It] having a curved bottom face II and a flat top I2. A pad I3 and stencil I4 are extended across the curved bottom face II of the platen Ill. The pad I3 is made up of a felt layer I5 which is securely adhesively attached to the curved bottom face of the platen I0 only, and a flannellayer It for ink disposed between the adjacent faces of the felt layer l5 and the stencil I4. The ends of the flannel layer i6 and the stencil I 4 are adapted to be extended across the top face of the ends of the fiat top I2 of the platen to be clamped in position thereon.

The stencil I4 is made of materials in common use for this purpose and is adapted to be cut on a typewriter or by hand by means of a stencil pen. When the stencil is engaged in position upon the Mimeographer pressure upon it will force ink through the indicia cut in the stencil to be imparted to the surface over which the platen I0 is rocked.

A top plate I! extends across the top face of the platen I0 and has end portions for engaging against the ends of the stencil I4 and the flannel portion I5 of the pad I3. The top plate I! is of a size substantially equal to the size of fiat top I2 of the platen l0.

Screw means is provided for clamping the top plate ll down on the flat top 12 of the platen Ill. The interior of the platen it is hollow and formed with a central upwardly extending boss IS. A plurality of webs I9 extend radially from the boss II! for reinforcing the side walls of the platen It. A screw 26 has its bottom end fixedly imbedded in the boss I8 and a free top end projected through a central opening formed in the top plate I? and beyond the top face thereof. A knob 22 is engageable upon the top end of the screw 26. The interior of the knob 22 carries a fixedly mounted internally threaded bushing 23 which is adapted to threadedly engage the top end of the screw 26. The knob 22 is adapted to be manually turned to bear against the top face of the top plate If and urge the top plate into facial contact with the flat top [2 of the platen in.

The end portions of the bottom face of the top plate is formed with downwardly extending transverse ribs 24. These ribs 24 are arranged to force the ends of the stencil l4 and the flannel layer I6 into complementary grooves 25 formed in the end portions of the flat top l2 of the platen lil. These ribs 24 will force the stencil l4 and layer l6 into the grooves 25 while the top plate H is in the process of being clamped down upon the flat top:

of the platen It] to take up the slack in these of the platen Iii.

The operation of this form of the invention is as follows:

The stencil Mis first cut on a typewriter or by hand and then the flannel layer it is saturated with ink. The flannel layer is then superimposed upon the back face of the stencil and these layers are then extended across the curved bottom face of the platen H with the free face of the layer It engaging the face of the felt layer l5. The ends of the stencil M and layer ifiare then extended across the end portions of the top face of the platen If! and over thegrooves 25. The top plate H is then engaged upon the platen It] with the free end of the screw 2!! projecting upwards through the opening 2|. The knob 22 is then manually turned onto the free end of the screw 29 clamping the top plate IT in position upon the flat top l2 of the platen it causing the ribs 2 3 to force the ends of the stencil M and the layer It into the grooves 25 to tightly stretch the stencil and layer 16 across the curved face H of the platen H3. The Mimeographer is now completely assembled and readyto be used for imprinting the material cut in the stencil upon a desired surface by rocking the platen Iii thereover. To remove the stencil Hi the above proceduce is reversed.

In Figs. 5 to 11 a modified form ofMimeographer is illustrated in which provision is made of initially taking up the slack in the stencil M and layer it before the top plate ll is securely clamped down upon the flat top' 52 of the platen It. The means is characterized by spaced bars 39 which extend laterally of the platen It and are arranged to be moved manually towards each other. The inner edges of the bars 36 are formed with inwardly directed teeth 3! which are adapted to be engaged through the ends of the stencil i l and the layer It to securely connect the ends of these parts with the bars 38. The bottom face of the ends of the bars {it are formed with serrations 3! which engage complementary serrations 32 formed on the top edges of the side walls of the platen l8. Leaf springs 33 have one of their ends securely, attached to the bottom face of the top plate ll by means of pins 3 3. The free ends of the leaf springs 33 are arranged to bear against the top face of the ends of the bars 36. In the partially clamped down position of the top plate ll the leaf springs 33 act to urge the bars 39 downwards causing the serrations 3! of the bars iii] to maintain their engaged position with the serrations 32 of the platen til. This position is clearly illustrated in Fig. 8.

The ends of the bars 30 are projected beyond the sids'cf the platen l8 and plate It to be manually gripped and be moved inwards. With the plate H in the position shown in Fig. 8 the serrations 35 of the bars 36 will ride over the serrations 32 of the platen iii and the springs 33 will keep these teeth continually engaged. Movement of the bars 30 will cause the slack in the stencil l4 and layer IE to be taken up before the top plate ll is securely clamped down.

When the top plate I! is completely clamped down by turning the knob 22 to the position shown in Fig. 5 the bars 39 will be securely locked in position and the remaining portion of the slack in the stencil l4 and the layer l6 will be taken by the ribs 24 forcing these parts into the grooves 25'.

As shown in Fig. 9 the ribs 2Q are adjustably mounted upon the bottom face of the top plate H to control the degree to which they will enter the grooves 25". Screws 40 are rotativ-ely but non-threadedly extended through the top plate I! of the Mimeographer. The ribs 24' are formed of several sections securely attached together, with the bottom ends of the screws being threadedly engaged through the top sections of the ribs 24. Enlarged heads M- are formed'on the bottom end of the screws 40 and are disposed in complementaryrecesses t2 form-edin the bottom sections of the ribs 24".

Rotations of the screws fie-will cause the ribs 24 -to move away from and towards the bottom face of the top plate I'L- It is impossible for the ribs 24' to become disengaged from the screws 40- I which the bars 3E] will clamp the ends of the sten-' oil It and flannel layer I6 when the bars are secured in position by the clamping down of the top plate ll.

In other respects thisform of the invention is similar to the previous form. and like reference numerals identify like par-ts in each of the several views.

In Fig. 12, th Mimeographer is illustrated in use on a stack of cardsor paper 66 placedin a tray 5!, with a cutaway side 62 to expedite the removal of the uppermost card 60 after it is mimeographed by the device.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right a platen provided with a curved bottom face for the pad and stencil .andarelatively flat top face the'end portions of whichare for supporting the ends of said stencil, a top plate extending across said platen and having end portions for engaging against the ends of saidstencil, screw means for clamping said top plate down on said platen, andtransverse ribs on the bottom faces of the end portions of said top plate and engaging com-.

plementary grooves in the. endportions of the top fac of said platen for gripping the end portions of said stencil, serrated bars for gripping the ends of said stencil and extended between said top plate and platen and having projecting ends, and means for holding said bars in several longi-; tudina1 positions on-saidplatenwhile-said top plate is being clamp-ed down by said screw means.

2. In a postal card size lvlimeographer having a platen provided with a curved bottom face for the pad and stencil and a relatively flat top face the end portions of which are for supporting the ends of said stencil, a top plate extending across said platen and having end portions for engaging against the ends of said stencil, screw means for clamping said top plate down on said platen, and transverse ribs on the bottom faces of the end portions of said top plate and engaging complementary grooves in the end portions of the top face of said platen for gripping the end portions of said stencil, and means for holding said ribs in adjusted positions relative to the bottom face of said top plate for controlling the degree to which said ribs will enter said grooves.

3. In a postal card size lvlimeographer having a platen provided with a curved bottom face for the pad and stencil and a relatively flat top face the end portions of which are for supporting the ends of said stencil, a top plate extending across said platen and having end portions for engaging against the ends of said stencil, screw means for clamping said top plate down on said platen, and transverse ribs on the bottom faces of the end portions of said top plate and engaging com-- plementary grooves in the end portions of the top face of said platen for gripping the end portions of said stencil, serrated bars for gripping the ends of said stencil and extended between said top plate and platen and having projecting ends, and means for holding said bars in several longitudinal positions on said platen while said top plate is being clamped down by said screw means, comprising complementary serrations on the adjacent faces of the extended ends of said bars and the sides of said platen, and means on said top plate urging said bars into positions in which said serrations engage one another.

4. In a postal card size Mimeographer having a platen provided with a curved bottom face for the pad and stencil and a relatively flat top face the end portions of which are for supporting the ends of said stencil, a top plate extending across said platen and having end portions for engaging against the ends of said stencil, screw means for clamping said top plate down on said platen, and transverse ribs on the bottom faces of the end portions of said top plate and engaging complementary grooves in the end portions of the top face of said platen for gripping the end portions of said stencil, serrated bars for gripping the ends of said stencil and extended between said top plate and platen and having projecting ends, and means for holding said bars in several longitudinal positions on said platen while said top plate is being clamped down by said screw means, comprising complementary serrations on the adjacent faces of the extended ends of said bars and the sides of said platen, and means on said top plate urging said bars into positions in which said serrations engage one another, comprising leaf springs mounted on the bottom face of said top plate and bearing against the ends of said bars urging them towards the serrations of said platen.

5. In a postal card size Mimeographer having a platen provided with a curved bottom face for the pad and stencil and a relatively flat top face the end portions of which are for supporting the ends of said stencil, a top plate extending across said platen and having end portions for engaging against the ends of said stencil, screw means for clamping said top plate down on said platen, and transverse ribs onthe bottom faces of the end portions of said top plate and engaging complementary grooves in the end portions of the top face of said platen for gripping the end portions of said stencil, and means for holding said ribs in adjusted positions relative to the bottom face of said top plate for controlling the degree to which said ribs will enter said grooves, said ribs being formed of separate superimposed sections, and said means, comprising screws rotatively engaging said top sections and threadedly engaging said bottom sections to extend and retract said bottom sections When the screws are turned in one direction or the other.

6. In a postal card size Mimeographer having a platen provided with a curved bottom face for the pad and stencil and a relatively fiat top face the end portions of which are for supporting the ends of said stencil, a top plate extending across said platen and having end portions for engaging against the ends of said stencil, screw means for clamping said top plate down on said platen, and. transverse ribs on the bottom faces of the end portions of said top plate and engaging complementary grooves in the end portions of the top face of said platen for gripping the end portions of said stencil, and means for holding said ribs in adjusted positions relative to the bottom face of said top plate for controlling the degree to which said ribs will enter said grooves, said ribs being formed of separate superimposed sections, and said means, comprising screws rotatively engaging said top sections and threadedly engaging said bottom sections to extend and retract said bottom sections when the screws are turned in one direction or the other, said screws having their heads exposed from the top face of said top plate to be turned.

BENJAMIN GOLD. 

